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Module 4 Lesson 13

Utilitarianism is a moral theory that evaluates actions based on their consequences, specifically whether they maximize happiness and pleasure or minimize harm and suffering. According to utilitarianism, morally right actions are those that produce the best overall consequences and total amount of pleasure. There are two main versions: act utilitarianism assesses individual acts, while rule utilitarianism advocates following rules that maximize overall well-being. Utilitarians believe morality should aim to increase good things like happiness in the world and decrease bad things like suffering.

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117 views2 pages

Module 4 Lesson 13

Utilitarianism is a moral theory that evaluates actions based on their consequences, specifically whether they maximize happiness and pleasure or minimize harm and suffering. According to utilitarianism, morally right actions are those that produce the best overall consequences and total amount of pleasure. There are two main versions: act utilitarianism assesses individual acts, while rule utilitarianism advocates following rules that maximize overall well-being. Utilitarians believe morality should aim to increase good things like happiness in the world and decrease bad things like suffering.

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janharold valdez
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MODULE 4

Lesson 13: Utilitarianism

Introduction
Utilitarianism is one of the best known and most influential moral theories. Like other
forms of consequentialism, its core idea is that whether actions are morally right or wrong depends on
their effects. More specifically, the only effects of actions that are relevant are the good and bad
results that they produce. A key point in this article concerns the distinction between individual actions
and types of actions.

Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students shall be able to understand the theory of Utilitarianism.

Readings
Utilitarianism

Right and wrong is determined by the overall goodness (utility) of the consequences of action.
Utilitarianism is a Consequentiality moral theory.

Basic ideas:

All action leads to some end. But there is a summum bonum – the highest good/end. This is
pleasure or happiness. Also, that there is a First Principle of Morals – ‘Principle of Utility’, alternatively
called ‘The Greatest Happiness Principle’ (GHP), usually characterized as the ideal of working
towards the greatest happiness of the greatest number. The GHP implies that we ought to act so as
to maximize human welfare (though Bentham thought we should include all sentient animals in his
utilitarian calculations).Ý We do this in a particular instance by choosing the action that maximizes
pleasure/happiness and minimizing suffering.

Jeremy Bentham – the first to formulate Utilitarianism – did not distinguish between kinds of
pleasures. However, Bentham’s student, John Stuart Mill, produced a more sophisticated version of
Utilitarianism in which pleasures may be higher or lower. The higher pleasures (those obtained, e.g.,
through intellectual pursuits), carried greater weight than the lower pleasures (those obtained through
sensation). The upshot is that in determining what action to perform, both quality and quantity of
pleasure/happiness count.

Note: Utilitarians are not a Hedonist. Hedonists are concerned only with their own happiness.
Utilitarians are concerned with everyone’s happiness, so it is Altruistic. In general, morally right
actions are those that produce the best overall consequences / total amount of pleasure or absence
of pain.

Modern versions of Utilitarianism have dropped the idea of maximizing pleasure in favor of
maximizing the satisfaction of all relevant peoples’ preferences and interests. Also, some distinguish
between Act Utilitarianism and Rule Utilitarianism. Act Utilitarianism is pretty mush as described
above, where we make the utilitarian calculation based on the evaluation of the consequences of a
single isolated act. It is thought by some that this leads to a number of significant problems – for
instance, that one person may be harmed if that leads to the greatest good for everyone. To
overcome these problems, some advocate Rule Utilitarianism – the view that we should adopt only
those rules (for governing society) that produce the greatest good for all.

Other key points:

 For Utilitarians, no action is intrinsically right or wrong.

 No person’s preferences or interests (including your own, your relatives, friends, neighbours,
etc.) carry a greater weight than any other person’s.

 Usually we cannot make the required utilitarian calculation before acting. So, in most
situations, following ‘rules of thumb’ will produce the best consequences.

 Democratic and economic principles reflect Utilitarianism.

Utilitarians believe that the purpose of morality is to make life better by increasing the amount
of good things (such as pleasure and happiness) in the world and decreasing the amount of bad
things (such as pain and unhappiness). They reject moral codes or systems that consist of
commands or taboos that are based on customs, traditions, or orders given by leaders or
supernatural beings. Instead, utilitarians think that what makes a morality be true or justifiable is its
positive contribution to human (and perhaps non-human) beings.

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